Card games

ABSTRACT

A card game having a common hand upon which a plurality of players may place a wager. The common hand comprising a plurality of cards with one or more of the cards being revealed sequentially. Each player has the opportunity of making an individual decision regarding the play of the common hand, before each subsequent card is revealed and a mechanism is provided for indicating the decision of each player.

The present invention relates to card games and in particular, though not exclusively to casino card games.

Conventionally in casino card games in which a plurality of players play against the house, each player is dealt an individual hand, which the players play in turn, in accordance with the particular rules of the game. For example, in Blackjack, each player is initially dealt two cards and can draw additional cards, until the player sticks or the total of his hand exceeds 21. Because of the number of cards dealt to each player, the number of players that can be accommodated at one table is limited. Furthermore the sequential play of each of the players' hands slows down the game.

Several versions of card games have been proposed in which a plurality of players play one or more common hands. However while this will enable the number of players to be increased and will also speed up play, hitherto the common hands have been played by only one of the players, or have been played in accordance with set rules of the house which govern the play of the common hand, for example when a card must be drawn or when the hand must stick. The resulting common hand will consequently be the same for all the players. At least a majority of the players will consequently have no personal involvement in the play of the hand, which will diminish the enjoyment the players get from the game and the appeal of the game.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a card game comprises;

-   -   a common hand upon which a plurality of players may place a         wager;     -   said common hand comprising a plurality of cards, one or more of         the cards being revealed sequentially;     -   each player having the opportunity of making an individual         decision regarding the play of the common hand, before each         subsequent card is revealed; and     -   means being provided for indicating the decision of each player.

The use of common hands in the manner disclosed above will enable the number of players to be increased and, as the players can make their decisions simultaneously, will speed up play. The players however each have the opportunity to play the common hand individually.

The card game in accordance with the present invention is particularly suited to card games such as Blackjack, Baccarat or Poker, in which the players can request additional cards to make the common hand, each player making an independent decision as to whether to stick or draw additional common cards.

Alternatively the game may be played where the players decision is to predict a characteristic of the card to be revealed, for example whether the card of higher or lower rank than the previously revealed card.

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates diagramatically a layout for playing Blackjack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates diagramatically an alternative layout for playing an alternative version of Blackjack in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates diagramatically a layout for playing Baccarat in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates diagramatically a layout for playing Draw Poker in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates diagramatically a layout for playing three card Draw Poker in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates diagramatically a layout for playing three card Draw Poker in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates diagramatically a layout for playing higher-lower against a dealer, in accordance with the present invention;

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a layout for playing Blackjack, in accordance with the present invention, defines an area 10 in which a common player hand my be dealt, an area 12 in which a dealer's hand may be dealt and a plurality of player areas 14, each player area having a box 16 in which the player may place a bet on the common player hand and a matrix of boxes 18, the boxes 18 being marked 16> (16 or less), 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 respectively.

At the commencement of the game, each player wishing to participate in the game places a bet in box 16 of one of the player areas 14. The dealer then deals two cards face up to the area 10 for the common player hand and one card face up for the dealer hand in area 12. Each player then decides on whether he wishes to stick on the two cards of the common player's hand of draw an additional card. If the player wishes to stick, a marker or the player's bet is placed in the box 18 in the players area 16 which corresponds to the value of the two common players hand cards, for example 16> to 21. The dealer then deals an additional common player card to area 10. If the total of the common player hand then exceeds 21, then the players who did not previously stick have bust and will lose their bets. If the total of the three cards in the common players hand is still below 21, the players who have not already stuck may then stick, their bets or markers being placed in box 18 of their player area 14 representing the new total. This continues until all of the players have stuck or the total of the common players hand reaches 21 or more.

The dealer then deals a second card to area 12 and plays out the dealer hand, in accordance with the house rules, and wins or pays out on the bet depending on the total of his hand and the totals on which each of the players stuck, as indicated by the placement of each bet or marker in the boxes 18.

Generally the rules of the various versions of Blackjack may be applied, as desired. For example the dealer may be required to draw on a total of 16 or less and stick on a total of 17 or more. Where the player sticks at the same total as the dealer, the bet is pushed.

However in the game in accordance with the present invention, there is no facility to split the hand. Consequently if the two cards dealt face up are of equal rank, the second card may be replaced by the next card from the deck, until a card of different rank is dealt. Exceptions may be made to this rule for example for a pair of 4's, 5's or a two card 20.

With conventional Blackjack, the dealer continues to deal cards to each of the players until the player sticks or achieves a total of 21 or more. The cards drawn by the players will consequently effect those which will eventually be dealt to complete the dealer's hand. In an alternative embodiment of the present game, even though all of the players have stuck, the dealer must deal farther cards to the common player hand until the value of the common player hand is 21 or more. In this manner the players can have no effect on the cards that are eventually dealt to the dealer.

In a further embodiment of the present game, there may be two or more common player hands, each player being able to bet on one or more of the common hands.

In the layout illustrated in FIG. 2 areas 10′ are provided for two common player hands hand A and hand B. The betting areas 16 in each player area 14 are also divided into two, in which bets may be placed on hand A and/or on hand B.

In addition an area 20 is provided for three common draw cards.

After the players have placed their bets on hand A and/or hand B, the dealer deals two cards face up in both areas 10′, one card face up in area 12 and three cards face down in area 20.

As described above, the player wishing to stick on the two cards dealt in the common player hand areas 10′ will indicate so by placing an appropriate markers in the appropriate boxs 18. The players may decide to stick on both hands; stick on one hand and draw on the other; or draw on both hands. When all the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals the first of the common draw cards and the players who have not already stuck decide whether they wish to stick or draw. This continues until both common hands total 21 or more, or all three common draw cards have been revealed.

The dealer then plays his hand using standard Blackjack procedures and the showdown, pay-out or forfeiture of the bets proceeds in the usual way.

If the first two cards dealt to either common hand or of equal rank, then they may be treated as described above.

In accordance with the present application, the common draw cards are limited to three, which are dealt before the dealer completes his hand and consequently, the action of the players cannot influence the cards dealt to the dealer.

In this version of blackjack if a player sticks on five cards which total 21 or less then the hand will beat any hand of the dealer with the exception of Blackjack (that is two cards totalling 21).

According to a further variation the dealer's hand may also be limited to a maximum of five cards. With this variation the total of the dealer's five card hand may not necessarily total more than 17. If the dealer has a five card hand totalling 21 or less, then irrespective of the total, this hand may be considered second best to Blackjack and will beat any two card hand of 20 or less, and any three or four card hand totalling 21 or less. If both the player and the dealer have five card hands of 21 or less then the bet will be pushed, irrespective of the totals of the players' and dealer's hands.

In a further variation, a five card hand may be treated as any other hand, the value depending purely on the total and not the number of cards. In this variation, if the dealer has a five card hand totalling less that 17; then

-   -   a) he will lose to any player having 17 or better regardless of         the number of cards in the player's hand; and     -   b) if the player has 16 or less the bet will be pushed,         irrespective of the totals.

In an alternative embodiment of this game, each of the common player hands may have a separate set of three common draw cards.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a layout for playing Baccarat, in accordance with the present invention, defines an area 30 in which a common player hand may be dealt, an area 32 in which a dealer hand may be dealt and a plurality of player areas 34. Each player area 34 has a box 36 in which a player may place a bet on the common player hand and a box 38 in which each player may signify whether or not the player wishes to draw an additional card.

The game is played in accordance with the conventional rules of Baccarat with the exception that each of a plurality of players play a common hand rather than individual hands. The value of the hands, which may comprise two or three cards, is the last digit of the total of the face value of the cards, Ace being equal to 1 and face cards being equal to 10. For example a two card hand comprising a four and a king (totalling 14) will have a value of 4 and a three card hand comprising a seven, a king and an ace (totalling 18) will have a value 8.

At the commencement of the game each player wishing to participate in the game places a bet in the box 36 of a player area 34.

The dealer then deals three cards, two face up and one face down, to the common player hand area 30 and three cards face down to the dealer hand area 32. Each player then decides individually, whether to stay with the two cards which are face up in the common player hand area 30 or whether to draw the third face down card, the player's decision to draw the third card being indicated by placing his bet or a marker, in the draw box 38.

Once all of the players have made their decisions, the dealer reveals the third card in the common player hand area 30 and the first two cards in the dealer hand area 32. The dealer may then elect to draw the third card in the dealer hand area 32, in accordance with the house rules. Typically the house rules would specify that the dealer must stay if the value of his hand is 6, 7, 8 or 9 and must draw if his hand is 0, 1, 2, 3.

Each player's hand of two or three cards, depending on the player's decision to draw or stay, is then compared to the dealer's two or three card hand to decide the outcome of the bet, in conventional manner.

According to a variation of the game described above, if the first two cards of the dealer's hand total 4 or 5, then:

-   -   a) the dealer will compare this two card hand with the hands of         players who have elected to draw the third card of the common         player hand to decide the bet; and     -   b) the dealer will use all three cards of the dealer hand to         compare against the hands of players who have elected to stay on         the first two cards of the common player hand, to decide the         bet.

Other known variations of the game of Baccarat may be used, in addition to or as an alternative to the above variations.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, instead of the draw box 38, each player may be provided with a marker, one side of the marker being marked “stay” and the other side of the marker being marked “draw”, the player placing the marker to appropriate side up to indicate his decision.

FIG. 4 illustrates a layout suitable for playing draw poker in accordance with the present invention. This layout defines an area 40 for a common player hand, an area 42 for a dealer hand and a plurality of player areas 44, each player area 44 having a box 46 in which a player may place a bet on the common player hand and a matrix of five boxes 48, each of the boxes 48 corresponding to the first five cards dealt to the common player hand.

At the commencement of the game each player wishing to participate places a bet in box 46 of a player area 44.

The dealer then deals five cards face up to the common player hand area 40 and five cards face down to the dealer hand area 42.

Each player then has an opportunity of exchanging one or more of the five face up cards in the common player hand area 40, the player indicating the cards he wishes to exchange by placing a marker on each of the boxes 48 corresponding to the card or cards he wishes to exchange.

Once all of the players have indicated their intention, the dealer deals five further cards face up to the common player hand area 40. These further cards replace the cards of the original five face up cards which each player has elected to exchange, the additional cards being taken in turn to replace the cards elected to be exchanged. For example, if one player elects only to replace the third of the original five cards, this will be replaced by the first additional card, while if another player elects to replace the first, fourth and fifth of the original cards, these will be replaced by the first three additional cards.

The dealer then reveals the five cards dealt to the dealer hand box 42, replacing one or more of the cards for additional cards, in accordance with house rules, and then compares the resulting dealer hand with the resulting individual player hand, using standard poker ranking tables to decide the outcome of each of the players' bets.

According to a variation of the game, the additional cards dealt to the common player hand area 40 may be used in sequence to replace the cards selected to be replaced by each player, so that the first additional card will replace the first original card, the second additional card will replace the second original card and so on. Alternatively, the player may indicate which of the five additional cards he wishes to replace the cards he has elected to replace, for example by placing markers marked 1 to 5, in the boxes 48 corresponding to the cards he wishes to replace.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention the dealer may initially deal more that 5 cards face up, for example 7 cards, to the common player hand area 40. Each player then having the opportunity of exchanging cards, in the manner described above. Each player then selects the best five card poker hand from the seven cards he is left with.

In other variations of the game:

-   -   one or more of the cards initially dealt to the dealer's hand         area 42 may be dealt face up;     -   the dealer will automatically lose, irrespective of the player's         hand, if the dealer's hand is not better than a designated         value; and/or     -   bonus payments may be made in respect of any player's hand that         exceeds a designated value.

FIG. 5 illustrates a layout for playing three card draw poker on accordance with the present invention. In this layout, in addition to the area 50 for the common player hand, an additional box 52 is provided for a common player draw card, and in addition to the area 54 for the dealer hand there is also provided an additional box 56 for a dealer draw card. Each of the player areas 58 have a box 60 in which a player may place a bet on the common hand and a matrix of three boxes 62, each box 62 corresponding to a different one of three cards dealt the common player hand area 50.

At the commencement of the game each player wishing to participate places a bet in box 60 of a player area 58.

The dealer then deals three cards face up to the common player hand area 50, three cards face down to the dealer hand area 52 and one card face down to both boxes 52 and 56.

Each player then has the choice of staying, that is playing the three cards dealt face up to the common player hand area or drawing when he will exchange one of the three face up cards dealt to the common player hand area 50, with the card dealt face down to box 52. If the player elects to draw, the card he wishes to exchange is indicated by placing his bet, or a marker on the box 62 corresponding to that card.

Once all of the players have indicated their intention to stay or draw, the dealer reveals the face down card in box 52.

The dealer then reveals the three cards dealt to the dealer hand box 54, and in accordance with house rules may replace one of the cards for the additional card in box 56, The dealer's resulting three card poker hand is then compare to each individual player hand, using standard poker ranking tables to decide the outcome of each of the players' bets.

According to a variation of this game each player may be required to make an additional bet in order to draw the additional card.

According to a further variation of the game, the dealer may deal one or more cards face up to the dealer hand area.

Other variations may also be included, for example the dealer may deal more then three cards face up to the common player hand area 50 and dealer hand area 54, so that the each player and the dealer then selects the best three card poker hand from the cards originally dealt, if the player has stayed, or the cards not exchanged and additional card, if the player has drawn. Also if the dealer's hand fails to reach a predetermined minimum value then the player's bet may be returned, irrespective of the player's hand. Bonus payments may also be made depending on the rank of the player's hand.

In accordance with a further embodiment, an alternative layout for playing three card poker, as illustrated in FIG. 6 has a common player hand area, having boxes 70, 72 in which the dealer may deal two cards face up and boxes 74, 76 and 78 in which the dealer may deal three cards face down and a dealer hand area 80. Each of a plurality of player areas 82 has a box 84 in which a player may place a bet on the common player hand and three boxes 86, each box 86 corresponding to a different one of the boxes 74, 76, 78. A further box 88 is also provided in each of the player areas 82.

At the commencement of the game each player wishing to participate places a bet in box 84 of a player area 82.

The dealer then deals two cards face up in the boxes 70 and 72 of the common player hand area, three cards face down to boxes 74, 76 and 78 of the common player hand area and three cards face up to the dealer hand area 52.

Each player then has the choice of one of the three face down cards dealt to boxes 74, 76 and 78, to make up his three card poker hand, the player's choice being indicated by placing his bet, or a marker on the box 86 corresponding to the card selected.

Once all of the players have chosen a card, the dealer reveals the face down cards in boxes 74, 76 and 78.

The dealer's three card poker hand is then compare to each individual player hand, using standard poker ranking tables to decide the outcome of each of the player' bets.

According to one variation, if the dealer's hand is lower than Jack high, then the dealer fails to qualify and will pay out on the player' bets in accordance with the following pay table:

Straight flush 7:1 Three of a kind 5:1 All other hands 1:2 (even those of lower value than the dealer)

If the dealer has Jack high or better then the dealer will take the bets of any player with a hand of lower rank and will pay out to all the players with a hand of higher rank, in accordance with the following pay table:

Straight flush 7:1 Three of a kind 5:1 All other hands 1:1

In addition to the player's initial bet, each player may also place an additional side bet in box 88, on his hand being equal to a pair of twos or better. If a player making this side bet has a hand of a pair of twos or better, then irrespective of the outcome of the initial poker bet, the dealer will pay out on the side bet, in accordance with the following pay table:

Straight flush 40:1  Three of a kind 35:1  Straight 7:1 Flush 3:1 Pair  1:1.

FIG. 7 illustrates a layout suitable for playing a game of high-low against a dealer, in accordance with the present invention. This layout has a common player hand area 90, a dealer hand area 92 and a plurality of player areas 94. Each player area 94 has a box 96, in which a player may place a bet on the common player hand, and a matrix of boxes 98, the boxes being marked 2^(nd) to 6^(th).

Players signify their participation in the game by placing a bet in box 96 of a player area.

The dealer then deals six cards face down into the common player hand area 90 and six cards face down into the dealer hand area. The dealer then turns over the first card in the common player hand area 90. Each player then signifies whether he thinks the second card in the common player area will be higher or lower that the first, his decision being indicted by means of a double faced marker, one face of which is marked “Hi” and the other face marked “Lo”, which he places in the box 98 marked 2^(nd). The dealer then turns over the second card.

Those players who made an incorrect decision with regard to the first card take no further part in the game, their marker being left in box 98 marked 2^(nd).

Those players who made a correct decision, then decide whether they believe that the third card dealt to the common player hand area 90 will be higher or lower than the second card, indicating their decision by moving their marker to the box 98 marked 3^(rd), with the appropriate marked face uppermost. Where the second card is of equal value to the first, both “Hi” and “Lo” are considered incorrect.

The game then proceeds in the manner disclosed above, until all six cards dealt to the common player hand area 90 have been exposed or all the players have made an incorrect decision.

The dealer then proceeds in similar manner to progressively reveal the cards dealt to the dealer hand in area 92, each time a card is revealed, making a decision as to whether the next will be higher or lower, until the dealer makes a wrong decision. The dealer's decisions will be in accordance with house rules which dictate the dealer's call.

The players who progress further than the dealer will then win their bets, while those who do not progress as far as the dealer will lose. Where the player and dealer have the same number of correct decisions, the bet is pushed. The position to which each player progressed is indicated by the position of the player's marker, in the matrix of boxes 98.

In a variation of the game the dealer's hand may be dispensed with, each player being paid out or losing in accordance with a pay table, depending on haw far he progresses. For example:

-   -   If the player does not progress beyond the third card, he loses         the bet;     -   If the player progresses to the fourth card he gets paid at odds         of 1:1;     -   If the player progresses to the fifth card he gets paid at odds         of 2:1; and     -   If the player progresses to the sixth card he gets paid at odds         of 3:1.

Alternatively, the player may receive a pay out each time he makes a correct decision, once he has passed a predetermined target. With this version of the game, instead of having boxes 98 corresponding to each card after the first, two boxes may be provided in each player area 96, one representing high and the other low.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention, for example other means for indicating the player's individual decisions and progress in the game, may be used. For example the matrix of boxes used in the various layouts may be replaced by marker, marked appropriately to correspond to respective cards of the common dealer hand. Alternatively, three dimensional bodies, for example dice, having appropriate markings on different faces may be used to indicate the player's selection and/or progress. According to a further embodiment, electronic input and display means my be used to indicate the player individual choices and progress. Furthermore common means may be used to indicate each player's decision/progress. For example a common matrix of boxes 18 as illustrated in FIG. 1 may be used, each of the player's final totals being indicated by a unique marker, for example the marker of each player may be of different colour or have different markings, which are placed in the common matrix of boxes 18.

While in many of the games described above, there is a single common player hand, multiple common hands may be included, the players being able to bet on one of more of the common hands. These common hands will be played independently, although, for example draw cards, may be common to each of the common hands. The players will however be able to make independent decisions in respect of each of the common hands. 

1. A card game comprising; a common hand upon which a plurality of players may place a wager; said common hand comprising a plurality of cards, one or more of the cards being revealed sequentially; each player having the opportunity of making an individual decision regarding the play of the common hand, before each subsequent card is revealed; and means being provided for indicating the decision of each player.
 2. The card game according to claim 1 in which each player makes an individual decision regarding the selection of one or more cards to add to the cards of the common hand.
 3. The card game according to claim 1 in which each player makes an individual decision regarding the selection of one or more cards to replace cards of the common hand.
 4. The card game according to claim 1 in which the game is based on one of the games including Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker.
 5. The card game according to claim 1 in which each player makes an individual decision regarding the characteristics of each subsequently revealed card.
 6. The card game according to claim 5 in which each player makes a decision as to whether a card to be revealed is of higher or lower rank than a card previously revealed.
 7. The card game according to claim 1 in which the means for indicating the player decision also indicates the player progress in the game.
 8. The card game according to claim 1 in which the means for indicating the player's decision comprises a plurality of boxes, marker means being placed in one or more of said boxes to indicate the player's decision.
 9. The card game according to claim 8 in which each box corresponds to one of the cards of the common hand.
 10. The card game according to claim 8 in which each box corresponds to the value of the individual player's hand.
 11. The card game according to claim 1 in which the means for indicating the player's decision comprises one or more markers, the or each marker representing a different decision of the player.
 12. The card game according to claim 1 in which the means for indicating the player's decision comprises a double sided marker, each side of the marker indicating a different decision of the player.
 13. The card game according to claim 1 in which the means for indicating the player's decision comprises a multi faced body, each face of the body corresponding to a different decision of the player.
 14. The card game according to claim 1 in which the means for indicating the player's decision comprises electronic input and display means.
 15. The card game according to claim 1 in which each player may play one or more multiple common hands, the player making individual decisions on each of the common hands.
 16. The card game according to claim 15 in which each common hand is played independently of the other common hands.
 17. The card game according to claim 15 in which subsequently revealed cards are common to the multiple common hands.
 18. A card game based on Blackjack comprising; a common hand upon which a plurality of players may place a wager; said common hand comprising a first card and a second card and one or more additional card which are revealed subsequent to the first and second cards; each player having the opportunity of making an individual decision regarding the play of the common hand, before each subsequent card is revealed; and means being provided for indicating the decision of each player; the second card being replaced by a further card, if the first and second cards are of equal rank.
 19. The card game according to claim 18 in which the second card is replaced by a further card, if the first and second card are of equal rank, other than a pair of fours, a pair of fives and a pair the total of which equals
 20. 